Rajshahi DIG's ‘special directive’ over showing 'Awami League' leaders arrested

Deputy inspector general (DIG) of Rajshahi Range has ordered police to show Awami League leaders and activists who are “capable of reorganising the party” after securing bail as “arrested” in other cases.

DIG Mohammad Shahjahan issued the “special” directive on Tuesday to the superintendents of police in Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Natore, Pabna, Sirajganj, Bogura, and Joypurhat.

The directive does not directly mention the Awami League or any of its affiliate organisations. It refers instead to organisations whose “activities are banned” and “fascist organisations”.

The order said leaders and activists of such organisations who are “capable of strengthening, reorganising and carrying out activities at the grassroots level” after being released, must be shown arrested in other cases after securing bail.

“Those who do not possess the described characteristics do not need to be shown arrested upon bail for now,” it added.


Asked about the directive, Shahjahan told bdnews24.com: “This is not about the Awami League. It concerns organisations that are banned. Instructions have been given regarding organisations whose activities have been prohibited by the government.”

“If anyone secures bail and has any involvement, I have instructed that they be shown arrested in the relevant case.”


There has been no report of similar directives being issued in any other police range.

Contacted for comment, Dhaka Range DIG Rezaul Karim Mallik said: “I have not given any such instruction.”

Chattogram Range DIG Ahsan Habib Palash echoed the same view.

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“I have not given, nor will I give, any such instruction,” he said.

Abdul Kaiyum, former inspector general of police and a member of the BNP chairperson’s advisory council, told bdnews24.com: “This is an unclear directive. Such instructions are not lawful. If any banned organisation carries out activities, the law should be applied in due process.”